The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has formally nominated its parliamentary leader, Vuyo Zungula, to participate in all proceedings relating to the Section 89 impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa over the controversial Phala Phala scandal.
In a letter addressed to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza on Thursday, ATM Chief Whip Thandiswa Marawu said the party believed Parliament had a constitutional duty to handle the impeachment process “without fear, favour or political expediency”.
The party argued that allegations surrounding the Phala Phala matter, coupled with findings from investigations by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), warranted serious parliamentary scrutiny.
“The Section 89 process must not be manipulated to shield political power, but must instead serve as a constitutional instrument to protect the Republic, uphold ethical governance, and restore public trust in Parliament’s oversight responsibilities,” the ATM said.
Section 89 of the Constitution provides the mechanism through which Parliament can remove a sitting president from office for a serious violation of the Constitution or the law, serious misconduct, or inability to perform the functions of office. Removal requires the support of at least two-thirds of members of the National Assembly.
The latest developments come amid renewed political and legal attention on the Phala Phala saga, which has haunted Ramaphosa’s presidency since 2022.
The scandal erupted after it emerged that a large sum of foreign currency, reportedly concealed inside furniture at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo, had been stolen during a burglary in 2020. Former State Security Agency director-general Arthur Fraser laid criminal charges against Ramaphosa, accusing him of money laundering, kidnapping, defeating the ends of justice and concealing the crime from authorities.
Ramaphosa has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintained that the money came from the legitimate sale of game animals to a Sudanese businessman.
In late 2022, an independent parliamentary panel chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo found there may have been a prima facie case that Ramaphosa had serious questions to answer regarding potential violations of the Constitution and anti-corruption laws.
However, the National Assembly later voted against adopting the panel’s report, effectively halting an impeachment inquiry at the time after the governing African National Congress (ANC) used its parliamentary majority to defeat the motion.
More recently, the Constitutional Court delivered rulings clarifying Parliament’s oversight responsibilities and reinforcing the importance of accountability mechanisms under Section 89. The judgments renewed debate around whether Parliament adequately fulfilled its constitutional obligations in handling the Phala Phala matter.
Meanwhile, IPID investigations into aspects of the scandal have continued, particularly concerning allegations involving police conduct and the handling of the burglary investigation.
The ATM said it had been among the first political parties to push for accountability over the scandal and argued that many of its concerns had since been validated through official findings and parliamentary processes.
The party described Zungula as a leader who had shown “unwavering commitment to accountability, constitutionalism, and the rule of law”.
The renewed impeachment discussions are expected to intensify political tensions within Parliament as opposition parties continue pressing for further scrutiny of Ramaphosa’s conduct.
Ramaphosa, who survived previous attempts to force his resignation over the scandal, has repeatedly stated that he is committed to cooperating with lawful processes and maintaining the integrity of the presidency.
